Public Service Medal
- Significance
- History
- Past recipients
- How it is awarded
- Medal design
- Nomination forms
- Print fact sheet
- More information
Significance
The Public Service Medal recognises outstanding service by employees of the Australian Government and state, territory and local government employees. ‘Outstanding service’ could be shown through:
- service excellence to the public, or to external or internal clients;
- innovation in programme, project or policy development;
- leadership, including as a member of a team; or
- the achievement of more efficient processes, improved productivity or better service delivery.
History
There is a long tradition in Commonwealth nations of recognising employees for outstanding public service.
Members of the Australian Public Service used to be rewarded through the Imperial Honours system with awards similar to their British counterparts. This ceased in 1975 when the Order of Australia was established.
The Australian Public Service Medal was established on 18 October 1989 by Letters Patent.
Past recipients
Recipients of the Public Service Medal come from a range of levels and areas across Australia, state, territory and local governments.
At 30 June 2006, there were 1,401 medals awarded.
Read about Mr Bob Stirling PSM who received a medal in 2003 for his role in improving Australia 's quarantine effectiveness.
Search the Australian Honours List for past recipients of the Public Service Medal.
How it is awarded
The Public Service Medal acknowledges outstanding service by employees of the Australian Government and state, territory and local government employees.
The various Public Service Medal Committees consider nominations for eligible employees.
Committees meet twice a year to consider nominations for the Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday honours lists. Closing dates for nominations should be checked with individuals Committee Secretariats but are generally 1 February and 1 August each year.
After considering the nominations, the committee recommends a list of proposed recipients to the Minister or Premier, who then makes a recommendation to the Governor-General who has the authority to approve awards.
There is an annual quota for each government public service, with a total of 100 medals awarded every year.
A person may only receive the Public Service Medal once and is entitled to the post-nominal PSM.
The award is announced on Australia Day (26 January) and the Queen’s Birthday (June) each year.
For nominations for Public Service Medals for state, territory and local government see more information in this section.
Medal design
Public Service Medal - front and back
The Public Service Medal is a circular nickel-silver medal ensigned with a Federation Star.
The front of the medal shows an inner circle with four planetary gears spaced equally around a sun gear. It is surrounded by the words 'Public Service'. An outer circle shows 36 human figures symbolising a range of occupations and activities.
The back of the medal displays a wreath of mimosa surrounding the inscription 'For Outstanding Service'.
The Public Service Medal was designed by Mr Stuart Devlin AO CMG.
Medal ribbon
The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon features the national colours of green and gold in a vertical striped pattern.
Nomination forms
Download a copy of the Public Service Medal nomination form.
- Public Service Medal nomination form - PDF 96KB File
Print fact sheet
The information on this page is available as a printable fact sheet.
- Public Service Medal - Fact Sheet - PDF 48KB File
Note: For more information on PDF files and their use see the PDF Help page on this site.
More information
For more information on making a nomination for the Public Service Medal contacts:
Commonwealth
The Secretary
PSM Committee Secretariat
Awards and Culture Branch
Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Australia
Telephone: 02 6271 5625
Fax: 02 6271 5662
New South Wales
Mr John Trevillian AM
Assistant Director-General
Office of Protocol and Special Events
Premier's Department
GPO Box 5341
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Telephone: (02) 9228 4513
South Australia
Ms Mandy Zavaglia
Senior Project Officer
Public Service Medal
Department of Premier and Cabinet
16th floor State Administration Centre
200 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8226 1930
Fax: (08) 8226 4040
Victoria
Ms Nikkie Gazenbeek
Senior Protocol Officer
Protocol and Special Events Branch
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
3 rd Floor
1 Treasury Place
MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Telephone: (03) 9651 5129
Tasmania
Ms Fiona Birkett
State Protocol Officer
GPO Box 123
HOBART TAS 7001
Telephone: (03) 6233 6703
Queensland
Mr Ross Sue See
Director
Protocol Queensland
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
PO Box 185
BRISBANE ALBERT STREET
QLD 4002
Telephone: (07) 3239 3731
Western Australia
Mr Mike O'Callaghan
Senior Policy Officer
Ministry of Premier and Cabinet
18 th Floor
197 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Phone: (08) 9489 3118
Australian Capital Territory
Mr Chris Wilson
Manager
Chief Minister's Support and Protocol
Chief Minister's Department
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone: (02) 6205 0192
Northern Territory
Ms Danielle Cross
Director
Strategic Workplace Planning and Development
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
GPO Box 4371
DARWIN NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8999 4137
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